7/31/20

Using AI to predict new materials with desired properties

Tsukuba, Japan, Aug 1, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - Scientists in Japan have developed a machine learning approach that can predict the elements and manufacturing processes needed to obtain an aluminum alloy with specific, desired mechanical properties. The approach, published in the journal Science and Technology of Advanced Materials, could facilitate the discovery of new materials.


Aluminum alloys are lightweight, energy-saving materials which are used for various purposes, from welding materials for buildings to bicycle frames. (Credit: Jozef Polc via123rf)


Aluminum alloys are lightweight, energy-saving materials made predominantly from aluminum, but also contain other elements, such as magnesium, manganese, silicon, zinc and copper. The combination of elements and manufacturing process determines how resilient the alloys are to various stresses. For example, 5000 series aluminum alloys contain magnesium and several other elements and are used as a welding material in buildings, cars, and pressurized vessels. 7000 series aluminum alloys contain zinc, and usually magnesium and copper, and are most commonly used in bicycle frames.

Experimenting with various combinations of elements and manufacturing processes to fabricate aluminum alloys is time-consuming and expensive. To overcome this, Ryo Tamura and colleagues at Japan's National Institute for Materials Science and Toyota Motor Corporation developed a materials informatics technique that feeds known data from aluminum alloy databases into a machine learning model. This trains the model to understand relationships between alloys' mechanical properties and the different elements they are made of, as well as the type of heat treatment applied during manufacturing. Once the model is provided enough data, it can then predict what is required to manufacture a new alloy with specific mechanical properties. All this without the need for input or supervision from a human.

The model found, for example, 5000 series aluminum alloys that are highly resistant to stress and deformation can be made by increasing the manganese and magnesium content and reducing the aluminum content. "This sort of information could be useful for developing new materials, including alloys, that meet the needs of industry," says Tamura.

The model employs a statistical method, called Markov chain Monte Carlo, which uses algorithms to obtain information and then represent the results in graphs that facilitate the visualization of how the different variables relate. The machine learning approach can be made more reliable by inputting a larger dataset during the training process.

Further information
Ryo Tamura
National Institute for Materials Science
tamura.ryo@nims.go.jp

Paper: https://doi.org/10.1080/14686996.2020.1791676

About Science and Technology of Advanced Materials Journal

Open access journal STAM publishes outstanding research articles across all aspects of materials science, including functional and structural materials, theoretical analyses, and properties of materials.

Chikashi Nishimura
STAM Publishing Director
NISHIMURA.Chikashi@nims.go.jp

Press release distributed by ResearchSEA for Science and Technology of Advanced Materials.

Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

source http://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/60567/

BitDeer.com Announces the Return of the S19 Pro & S19 Plans

SINGAPORE, Aug 1, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - BitDeer.com, the world's leading computing power-sharing platform, has announced the return of the S19 Pro and S19's 360-day Accelerator Mode Plan. The S19 series is one of the most advanced ASIC Miners on the market which introduced major gains in energy efficiency and computing power. The hardware was released in March of this year.




BitDeer.com is launching an Accelerator Mode Plan allowing users to obtain computing power at a competitive low market price enabling break-even results quicker than competing computing power sharing solutions. BitDeer is capable of achieving this by lowering their own margins as a goodwill action back to the user-base. Users will only need to provide the maintenance and electricity cost such as other plans, and should begin to see their mining outputs produce results immediately. The plan also allows for flexibility in a volatile economy to allow users more choice on how they decide to deploy their budgets on mining.

Under the Accelerator Mode Plan, the platform has zero initial profits and subsidies. For example, when the accumulated mining revenue minus the paid electricity fee is less than the computing power cost, users receive the net mining outputs during this period. The classic plans have a higher potential for larger mining outputs for long-term customers, while this new plan gives options to miners who are looking for quicker mining outputs, giving customers more flexibility to accumulate during volatile market conditions. BitDeer's Accelerator Mode Plan is suitable for both the mining machine model and the package price.

The mining ability of the S19 Pro and S19 are stronger than other mining machines in the market. BitDeer.com's S19 series mining machines are the largest mining machine models, with the strongest energy efficiency ratio, the lowest proportion of electricity costs, and strong ability to leverage risk. This high quality standard is entirely in line with BitDeer's philosophy to make better mining machines in the future.

At present, S17 series mining machines are more commonly used in the market, while S19 Pro and S19 are scarce models and are highly sought after. For more information on BitDeer.com, their computing power, and their initiatives, please visit the official website.

About BitDeer

BitDeer is the world's leading computing power-sharing platform, enabling global users to mine cryptocurrencies in a transparent, reliable, and convenient way. It saves users from the complicated process of purchasing, installing, and hosting mining machines. Individual miners can enjoy the service with just one click.

For more information, please visit:
Website: https://www.BitDeer.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BitDeerplatform
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BitDeerOfficial
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu95K9N5CM4
VK: https://vk.com/public174640639

Media Contact: MagicFew
Email: hello@magicfew.com

Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

source http://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/60566/

Haier Smart Home and Haier Electric Group jointly announced the proposed privatization of Haier Electric Group by way of an issuance of new H Shares to be listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange

HONG KONG, Jul 31, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (600690.SH / 690D.DE, "HSH" or "the Company") and Haier Electric Group Co., Ltd. (1169.HK, "HEG") jointly announced that HSH has formally requested HEG to put forward a proposal ("Privatisation Proposal") to the holders of HEG Shares (other than HSH and any of its wholly-owned subsidiaries) ("Scheme Shares" and holders of which are "Scheme Shareholders") for the privatisation of HEG by way of a scheme of arrangement subject to the satisfaction of certain pre-conditions. Under the Privatisation Proposal, holder of each Scheme Share will receive 1.60 new H Shares from HSH and cash payment of HK$1.95 (the "Cash Payment") from HEG when the Privatisation Proposal becomes effective. As part of the Proposed Privatisation, HSH will make an application for listing of the newly-issued H Shares by way of introduction ("Introduction") on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The Proposed Privatisation and the Introduction are conditional on each other.

It is expected that if the Scheme becomes effective, all Scheme Shares will be cancelled and HSH will issue an aggregate of 2,448,280,617 new H shares to Scheme Shareholders and HEG will make a total cash payment of HK$2,984 million to Scheme Shareholders (assuming no change in the number of HEG Shares in issue prior to the Scheme Record Time). As of the Announcement Date, HSH and its wholly-owned subsidiary Haier Shareholdings (Hong Kong) have a total of 1,286,820,592 HEG Shares, representing approximately 45.68% of the outstanding issued share capital of HEG.

Platinum Securities, the independent valuer appointed by HSH, has estimated that the value of each HSH H Share as at July 30, 2020 is in the range of RMB16.45 to RMB16.90 (equivalent to approximately HK$18.23 to HK$18.72 respectively). On the basis of the mid-point of such valuation range of HK$18.47 and that Scheme Shareholders will received (i) 1.60 HSH H Shares and (ii) the Cash Payment for every Scheme Share cancelled, the theoretical total value of the HSH H Shares and the Cash Payment for each Scheme Share under the Privatisation Proposal will be approximately HK$31.51, representing a premium of approximately 42.65% to HEG's average closing price of HK$22.09 for the 30 trading days before the issue of the possible privatisation announcement on 16 December 2019, and a premium of approximately 28.34% to HEG's average closing price of HK$24.55 for the 30 trading days before the issue of the privatisation announcement on 31 July 2020.

If the Proposed Privatisation is successful, HSH will simultaneously achieve the privatisation of HEG and the listing of new H Shares of HSH on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to become a A+D+H-shares listed company.

The Proposed Privatisation will constitute a material asset restructuring of HSH under the rules of the China Securities Regulatory Commission. Accordingly, the transaction is also subject to the approvals of the shareholders of HSH.

The Privatisation will enable the integration of HSH and HEG, facilitate the implementation of HSH's strategies, and enhance HSH's global leadership

After the proposed transaction is completed, HSH will continue to strive for a Smart Home Platform and enhance interconnection capabilities by consolidating various product categories under HSH and HEG as well as operations in R&D, manufacturing, distribution and other services, in a bid to develop smart home solutions business. At the same time, HEG will expand its product portfolio to cover refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, kitchen appliances and small appliances that are currently operated by HSH, thus benefiting from full-suite smart home products and service solutions.

In addition, as the number of related party transactions in R&D and distribution will be largely reduced or eliminated, HSH will be able to further improve its operational efficiency, thereby enhancing its leading position in the one-stop smart home solution business on the consumer front. On the one hand, HSH has established a global business platform by means of organic growth and a series of successful overseas acquisitions. In view of this, HEG will be able to speed up the overseas expansion of its existing washing machine, water heater and water purifier businesses through the global platform of HSH; on the other hand, as the competition and related party transactions between the two companies lessen, HSH will be better positioned to streamline decision-making processes and expedite lead time, which will accelerate the implementation of its Experiential Cloud Strategy: firstly, the Experiential Cloud Strategy will offer users seamless experience through full-suite smart solutions; secondly, it is also an ever-evolving platform connecting and benefiting billions of families, users and businesses. HSH aspires to become the life-time partner of millions of users with its smart solutions in every stop of their journey of building a better home.

The Privatisation will generate returns for the Scheme Shareholders

At an exchange ratio of 1.60 HSH H Share and with the Cash Payment of HK$1.95 per Scheme Share, the theoretical value per Scheme Share under the Privatization Proposal of HK$31.51 represents a premium of approximately 28.34% to HEG's average closing price of HK$24.55 for the 30 trading days before the privatisation announcement on 31 July 2020.

The Scheme Shareholders will benefit from a stronger HEG as part of the enlarged HSH Group and potential synergies arising from further integration of HEG and HSH. Scheme Shareholders will also be able to partly monetize their investments in HEG through the Cash Payment. It is expected that HSH will accelerate its overseas expansion after the transaction and achieve robust growth with an enlarged product portfolio. In addition, through further resources integration and operating efficiency improvement, HSH is expected to optimize spending and generate sustained returns for its shareholders. It is expected that after the listing of HSH H Shares completes, HSH Group will benefit from a larger market capitalization and a more diversified investor base.

After the Scheme becomes effective, with improved capital management and operational efficiency, HSH plans to increase the dividend pay-out ratio to 40% within three years on the basis of net profit attributable to parent company's ordinary shareholders which means a significant improvement compared with the 30% pay-out ratio of recent years, in order to demonstrate its commitment to continuing enhancement of returns for all shareholders.

HSH has appointed CICC and J.P. Morgan to act as its joint financial advisers, Clifford Chance LLP and King & Wood Mallesons as legal advisers in connection with the Privatisation Proposal and the Scheme, and Sullivan & Cromwell (Hong Kong) LLP and Zhong Lun Law Firm are legal advisers to the joint financial advisers; HEG has appointed UBS as its financial adviser and Fangda Partners as legal adviser in connection with the Privatisation Proposal and the Scheme.





Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com Via JCN Newswire https://ift.tt/2pbRN02

Haier Smart Home and Haier Electric Group jointly announced the proposed privatization of Haier Electric Group by way of an issuance of new H Shares to be listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange

HONG KONG, Jul 31, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (600690.SH / 690D.DE, "HSH" or "the Company") and Haier Electric Group Co., Ltd. (1169.HK, "HEG") jointly announced that HSH has formally requested HEG to put forward a proposal ("Privatisation Proposal") to the holders of HEG Shares (other than HSH and any of its wholly-owned subsidiaries) ("Scheme Shares" and holders of which are "Scheme Shareholders") for the privatisation of HEG by way of a scheme of arrangement subject to the satisfaction of certain pre-conditions. Under the Privatisation Proposal, holder of each Scheme Share will receive 1.60 new H Shares from HSH and cash payment of HK$1.95 (the "Cash Payment") from HEG when the Privatisation Proposal becomes effective. As part of the Proposed Privatisation, HSH will make an application for listing of the newly-issued H Shares by way of introduction ("Introduction") on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The Proposed Privatisation and the Introduction are conditional on each other.

It is expected that if the Scheme becomes effective, all Scheme Shares will be cancelled and HSH will issue an aggregate of 2,448,280,617 new H shares to Scheme Shareholders and HEG will make a total cash payment of HK$2,984 million to Scheme Shareholders (assuming no change in the number of HEG Shares in issue prior to the Scheme Record Time). As of the Announcement Date, HSH and its wholly-owned subsidiary Haier Shareholdings (Hong Kong) have a total of 1,286,820,592 HEG Shares, representing approximately 45.68% of the outstanding issued share capital of HEG.

Platinum Securities, the independent valuer appointed by HSH, has estimated that the value of each HSH H Share as at July 30, 2020 is in the range of RMB16.45 to RMB16.90 (equivalent to approximately HK$18.23 to HK$18.72 respectively). On the basis of the mid-point of such valuation range of HK$18.47 and that Scheme Shareholders will received (i) 1.60 HSH H Shares and (ii) the Cash Payment for every Scheme Share cancelled, the theoretical total value of the HSH H Shares and the Cash Payment for each Scheme Share under the Privatisation Proposal will be approximately HK$31.51, representing a premium of approximately 42.65% to HEG's average closing price of HK$22.09 for the 30 trading days before the issue of the possible privatisation announcement on 16 December 2019, and a premium of approximately 28.34% to HEG's average closing price of HK$24.55 for the 30 trading days before the issue of the privatisation announcement on 31 July 2020.

If the Proposed Privatisation is successful, HSH will simultaneously achieve the privatisation of HEG and the listing of new H Shares of HSH on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to become a A+D+H-shares listed company.

The Proposed Privatisation will constitute a material asset restructuring of HSH under the rules of the China Securities Regulatory Commission. Accordingly, the transaction is also subject to the approvals of the shareholders of HSH.

The Privatisation will enable the integration of HSH and HEG, facilitate the implementation of HSH's strategies, and enhance HSH's global leadership

After the proposed transaction is completed, HSH will continue to strive for a Smart Home Platform and enhance interconnection capabilities by consolidating various product categories under HSH and HEG as well as operations in R&D, manufacturing, distribution and other services, in a bid to develop smart home solutions business. At the same time, HEG will expand its product portfolio to cover refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, kitchen appliances and small appliances that are currently operated by HSH, thus benefiting from full-suite smart home products and service solutions.

In addition, as the number of related party transactions in R&D and distribution will be largely reduced or eliminated, HSH will be able to further improve its operational efficiency, thereby enhancing its leading position in the one-stop smart home solution business on the consumer front. On the one hand, HSH has established a global business platform by means of organic growth and a series of successful overseas acquisitions. In view of this, HEG will be able to speed up the overseas expansion of its existing washing machine, water heater and water purifier businesses through the global platform of HSH; on the other hand, as the competition and related party transactions between the two companies lessen, HSH will be better positioned to streamline decision-making processes and expedite lead time, which will accelerate the implementation of its Experiential Cloud Strategy: firstly, the Experiential Cloud Strategy will offer users seamless experience through full-suite smart solutions; secondly, it is also an ever-evolving platform connecting and benefiting billions of families, users and businesses. HSH aspires to become the life-time partner of millions of users with its smart solutions in every stop of their journey of building a better home.

The Privatisation will generate returns for the Scheme Shareholders

At an exchange ratio of 1.60 HSH H Share and with the Cash Payment of HK$1.95 per Scheme Share, the theoretical value per Scheme Share under the Privatization Proposal of HK$31.51 represents a premium of approximately 28.34% to HEG's average closing price of HK$24.55 for the 30 trading days before the privatisation announcement on 31 July 2020.

The Scheme Shareholders will benefit from a stronger HEG as part of the enlarged HSH Group and potential synergies arising from further integration of HEG and HSH. Scheme Shareholders will also be able to partly monetize their investments in HEG through the Cash Payment. It is expected that HSH will accelerate its overseas expansion after the transaction and achieve robust growth with an enlarged product portfolio. In addition, through further resources integration and operating efficiency improvement, HSH is expected to optimize spending and generate sustained returns for its shareholders. It is expected that after the listing of HSH H Shares completes, HSH Group will benefit from a larger market capitalization and a more diversified investor base.

After the Scheme becomes effective, with improved capital management and operational efficiency, HSH plans to increase the dividend pay-out ratio to 40% within three years on the basis of net profit attributable to parent company's ordinary shareholders which means a significant improvement compared with the 30% pay-out ratio of recent years, in order to demonstrate its commitment to continuing enhancement of returns for all shareholders.

HSH has appointed CICC and J.P. Morgan to act as its joint financial advisers, Clifford Chance LLP and King & Wood Mallesons as legal advisers in connection with the Privatisation Proposal and the Scheme, and Sullivan & Cromwell (Hong Kong) LLP and Zhong Lun Law Firm are legal advisers to the joint financial advisers; HEG has appointed UBS as its financial adviser and Fangda Partners as legal adviser in connection with the Privatisation Proposal and the Scheme.



Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

source http://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/60562/

Kidsland Unveils The LEGO Certified Online Store Carrying The Most Diversified And Comprehensive Product Ranges in Asia Pacific on 3 August

HONG KONG, Jul 31, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - Kidsland International Holdings Limited ("Kidsland" or "the Group"; stock code: 2122), the largest toy retailer in China, is pleased to announce that it will launch the Hong Kong LEGO certified online store (http://LEGO.kidslandgroup.com), which carries the most diversified and comprehensive product ranges in Asia Pacific, on 3 August. As an addition to the five existing physical LEGO Certified Stores, the online certified store will not only allow Hong Kong LEGO fans to enjoy quick and convenient home delivery service, but also demonstrate again the Group's relentless efforts in promoting digitalization and creating an omni-channel shopping experience.






Kidsland will launch the Hong Kong LEGO certified online store, which carries the most diversified and comprehensive product ranges in Asia Pacific, on 3 August


Kidsland has always been keeping abreast of the latest market trends, and actively pursuing reforms despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenging operating environment. Earlier in February, the Group launched the WhatsApp order placing and home delivery service, which was well-received by customers in Hong Kong. This time, it launched the LEGO certified online store to provide an Internet shopping platform carrying the most diversified and comprehensive product ranges to customers. On top of all the products available at LEGO Certified Stores, Hong Kong LEGO certified online store will also offer exclusive product series to satisfy the growing needs of customers and achieve channel diversification, conducive to expanding the Group's customer base.

Hong Kong LEGO certified online store will offer a series of special promotions during its opening period, including free delivery service for all purchases made within the first two weeks after the store opening between 3 and 16 August. Also the first 300 customers are even entitled to receive a limited edition gift. In addition, the store supports safe and reliable payment methods such as payment by mainstream credit cards and e-Wallets, all in a bid to facilitate easy payment by customers and improve their shopping experience.

Mr. Lee Ching Yiu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kidsland, said, "In the face of a complex, changing and challenging operating environment, we have been pursuing reforms to address changes in the market and the consumption pattern of the public. Looking ahead, we will continue to step up the development of online platform so as to achieve all-round digitalization experience for the Company and customers. This will help us maintain good communications with our customers, deepen our understanding in their shopping patterns and hence satisfy their various needs. In addition, we will continue to consolidate our offline sales channels to establish an integrated online and offline marketing model, so as to create a seamless omni-channel shopping experience for customers with our two-pronged approach."

About Kidsland International Holdings Limited (stock code: 2122)
Kidsland International Holdings Limited ("Kidsland" or "the Group") is engaged in retail, wholesale, e-commerce and brand operation of toys and infant products in China. As the largest toy retailer in China, it has near 20 years of industrial experience. The Group owns the most comprehensive online and offline sales network in China. Currently, its self-operated offline retail system includes "kidsland Toy Store", "Babyland Infant and Kid Toy and Product Store", "LEGO Certified Store" and "FAO Schwarz".


Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

source http://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/60556/

The Washington Companies Determined to be Causing Employer in Accident

LAS VEGAS, NV, Jul 31, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - In the deposition of OSHA expert Kurt Stranne, a professional engineer, an OSHA safety instructor, a former USAF Flight chief, a former Boeing Flight test engineering analyst, and a Certified Safety Professional, the Washington Companies attorney line of questioning sought clarification from Mr. Stranne, in his opinion, who was at fault in an ongoing Federal lawsuit in the United States Federal Court of the Western District of Washington at Tacoma.

The ongoing case involves ETON of North Las Vegas, NV and one of the Washington Companies facilities based in Rochester, WA. The Federal lawsuit is about an unfortunate accident involving Komatsu equipment loaded by a Washington Companies employee and then transported by ETON. Due to the Komatsu equipment being loaded incorrectly, the Komatsu equipment struck a major interstate bridge in the State of Washington causing damage to the bridge. The rebuilding of the bridge caused a major disruption to people in the area who had relied on the bridge for decades to get from one side of the interstate to the other.

During the deposition of expert witness Mr. Stranne, Washington Companies attorney, Mr. Steve Stocker of Stocker Smith Luciani & Staub of Spokane, WA, repeatedly asked about the duties of the controlling work site employer Washington Companies and the duties of the carrier ETON. Mr. Stranne outlined the following scene in an effort to clarify the respective exposure for culpability within the OSHA realm of work place safety and jurisdictional control to better help Washington Companies attorney Mr. Stocker understand who was at fault based on OSHA statues.

The scene that Mr. Stranne outlined was had the ETON driver been sent to a hospital with injuries as a result of the bridge strike, the accident would have been deemed a workplace injury. The injures and the hospitalization of the driver would have triggered a State of Washington OSHA investigation into what caused the accident that put the driver in the hospital. Mr. Stranne, as the OSHA expert, explained that in his opinion the Washington Companies would have been cited as the "causing party" of the accidental bridge strike.

Mr. Stranne's informed conclusions were based on fact that the Komatsu equipment was loaded at a Washington Companies controlled work site and a Washington Companies employee performed the loading of said equipment. The reason for his opinion finding fault against Washington Companies was three-fold according to Mr. Stranne. First, the loading of the equipment went against the manufactures recommendations, which Washington Companies has a duty to follow. Second, it was against the industry standard, and third, it varied from Washington Companies customary manner in which this type of Komatsu equipment was loaded. Mr. Stranne explained Washington Companies had an OSHA mandated duty to follow all three methods in the loading of the Komatsu equipment on the flatbed trailer, which the Washington Companies employee failed to do. In that Washington Companies deviated from these three standards, OSHA would have determined Washington Companies to be the root cause of the accident.

Mr. Stranne declined to speculate about what the parties' duties might have been according to other federal or state agencies but testified about what he saw as the causing factors from his expertise with OSHA and determined the loader loading the Komatsu equipment loaded it wrong. Washington Companies loader, Mr. Tyler Piles violated the manufacture loading steps, the industry standards on how the equipment should be loaded, and Washington Companies own customary manner of loading this type of equipment. As an employee of Washington Companies, this would make Washington Companies the "causing employer" of the bridge strike.

Modern Machinery a part of a large consortium of privately held companies collectively known as the Washington Companies, owned by billionaire Dennis R. Washington. Modern Machinery sells and rents high quality heavy equipment and provides product support to the construction, mining, and forestry industries. The Modern Machinery terminal in Rochester, WA is a home to a large staging area for a variety of Komatsu product brought from overseas awaiting shipment to other Komatsu dealers.

ETON is a Las Vegas-based premier transportation company serving the Western United States with equipment, professional drivers and superior on-time service.

Komatsu America Corp. is a U.S. subsidiary of Komatsu Ltd., (OTCMKTS: KMTUY) the world's second largest manufacturer and supplier of earth-moving equipment, consisting of construction, mining and compact construction equipment.

CONTACT:
Mitchell Truman, ETON.me
http://www.ETON.me, +(702) 348 6370
Environmental Transportation of Nevada, LLC

Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

source http://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/60555/

Audio StartUp Duolink Go Debuts Flagship SpeakerBuds

LOS ANGELES, CA., Jul 31, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - LA-based audio startup Duolink Go is debuting its flagship SpeakerBuds three-in-one device, combining true wireless earbuds and a two-part charging case with in-built speakers, now on pre-launch via Kickstarter.

Since its launch in 2018, Duolink has invested $3 million in developing SpeakerBuds and other innovative audio hardware, using top-notch acoustical engineering, so this party in your pocket device fulfills every listening need.

Designed to transfer music in seconds, with no audio drop, Duolink SpeakerBuds offer high-quality sound on both sides of a room (to 16 feet). Fully charged after only 2 hours, SpeakerBuds run for up to 6 hours, and with the speaker acting as a power bank they enjoy up to 2x longer battery life than similar products. Users can even charge while still playing music by slotting the earbuds into the speaker.

Victor Liu, founder of Duolink Go, explains the company's ambition to offer the future of music for every lifestyle and create a new category within the audio hardware market:

"We have spent years designing the best audio products and music experience for consumers and our first project, Duolink SpeakerBuds, is a complete reinvention of the music player. Our vision is to build a future where technology innovation and industrial design can truly empower daily lives, evolving alongside consumer needs and demand.

"Duolink SpeakerBuds is only the start to our long-term adventure, where we foresee the day when people worldwide will be enjoying devices which enable music to be adapted to suit any lifestyle. Duolink SpeakerBuds is a key part of a music revolution where we can place parties in our pockets and hear personal concerts with a snap."

Duolink SpeakerBuds will be available from July 30th for $149, but are now on Kickstarter for $79 pre-launch https://bit.ly/2CxKYyC.

Learn more about Duolink Go at https://bit.ly/2CUkKXc.

About Duolink Go
Assembled in 2018 and based in Los Angeles, CA, Duolink Go designs adaptable audio devices for all the music lovers. At Duolink Go, we are a diverse team of professionals whose passion for music runs through our veins. As a team, we stand in unity to bring the joy of music to the world through constant innovation. Visit Duolink Go at https://duolinkgo.com.

Media Contact
Vanessa Liu
vanessa@duolinkgo.com

Source: Duolink Go



Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com Via JCN Newswire https://ift.tt/2pbRN02

ワシントン・カンパニーズ、事故の原因となった雇用主と判断される

LAS VEGAS, NV, Jul 31, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - 米国労働安全衛生局(OSHA)の専門家であるKurt Stranne氏の宣誓供述において、ワシントン・カンパニーズの弁護士は、ワシントン州西部地区タコマにある連邦裁判所で現在係争中の連邦訴訟において、誰に過失があるかについてStranne氏の見解を明らかにするよう求めました。Stranne氏は、プロフェッショナルな技術者であり、OSHAの安全指導員であり、元米空軍飛行主任、元ボーイング飛行試験技術アナリストであり、認定安全専門家でもあります。

現在係争中の訴訟は、ネバダ州ノースラスベガスにあるETON社とワシントン州ロチェスターに拠点を置くワシントン・カンパニーズの施設が関与しています。連邦訴訟は、ワシントン・カンパニーズの従業員によって積み込まれ、ETONによって輸送されたコマツの機器に関連する不幸な事故に関するものです。コマツの機器が誤って積み込まれたため、ワシントン州にある州間高速道路の主要な高架にコマツの機器が衝突し、高架に損傷を与えました。高架の再建は、数十年にわたって州間高速道路の片側からもう一方の側へ移動するために高架に依存していた地域の人々に大きな混乱を引き起こしました。

専門家証人であるStranne氏の宣誓供述の間、ワシントン・カンパニーズの弁護人であるワシントン州のStocker Smith Luciani & Staub of SpokaneのSteve Stocker氏は、現場を管理する雇用者であるワシントン・カンパニーズ、および運送業者であるETONの義務について繰り返し質問しました。Stranne氏は、ワシントン・カンパニーズの弁護士であるStocker氏がOSHAの法令に基づいて誰に過失があったのかを理解するのに役立つように、OSHAの領域である作業場の安全性および管轄管理において、それぞれの責任の所在を明確にするために、次のような場面の概要を説明しました。

Stranne氏が説明した場面は、ETONの運転者が高架に衝突した結果、負傷して病院に運ばれていたら、この事故は労災とみなされていただろうというものです。運転者の怪我と入院は、運転者が病院に入院することになった事故の原因についてワシントン州OSHAが調査する引き金となったでしょう。Stranne氏は、OSHAの専門家として、ワシントン・カンパニーズが高架衝突事故の「原因となった当事者」として挙げられていただろうと説明しました。

Stranne氏の情報に基づく結論は、コマツの機器がワシントン・カンパニーズの管理下にある作業場で積み込まれ、ワシントン・カンパニーズの従業員が当該機器の積み込みを行ったという事実に基づいていました。Stranne氏によると、ワシントン・カンパニーズに過失があるとした理由は3つあるとのことです。第1に、機器の積み込みは、ワシントン・カンパニーズが従う義務のあるメーカーの推奨事項に反していました。第2に、業界標準に反していたこと、第3に、ワシントン・カンパニーズがこの種のコマツ製機器を積載する慣習的な方法と異なっていたことです。Stranne氏は、フラットベッドトレーラーにコマツ製機器を積み込む際に、ワシントン・カンパニーズには3つの方法すべてに従う義務があるとOSHAに義務付けられていたが、同社の従業員はそれを怠っていたと説明しました。この3つの基準を逸脱していた場合、OSHAはワシントン・カンパニーズが事故の根本的な原因であると判断していたでしょう。

Stranne氏は、その他の連邦政府機関や州政府機関において、当事者の義務がどのようなものであったかについては推測を避けましたが、OSHAの専門知識に基づいて、原因となった要因について証言し、コマツの機器を積載していたローダーが間違って積載したと判断しました。ワシントン・カンパニーズのローダーであるTyler Piles氏は、製造時の積み込み手順、機器の積み込み方法に関する業界基準、およびこの種の機器の積み込み方法に関するワシントン・カンパニーズ独自の慣習的な方法に違反していました。ワシントン・カンパニーズの従業員として、ワシントン・カンパニーズは高架事故の「原因となった雇用主」となります。

Modern Machineryは、億万長者のDennis R.Washingtonが所有するワシントン・カンパニーズとして総称される非公開企業の大規模なコンソーシアムの一部です。Modern Machineryは、高品質な重機の販売およびレンタルを行い、建設、鉱山、林業業界に機械のサポートを提供しています。ワシントン州ロチェスターにあるModern Machineryのターミナルには、海外から持ち込まれ、コマツ販売店へ出荷待ちの各種機械の大規模なステージングエリアが集結しています。

ETONは米国ラスベガスを拠点とする大手の運送会社であり、米国西部で機械、プロのドライバー、優れたオンタイム・サービスを提供しています。

コマツアメリカ株式会社は、建設・鉱山機械やユーティリティ(小型機械)などの製造・販売事業を展開する世界第2位の土木機械メーカーであるコマツ(OTCMKTS: KMTUY)の米国子会社です。

お問い合わせ先:
ETON.me
Mitchell Truman
+1 (702) 348 6370
http://www.ETON.me
Environmental Transportation of Nevada, LLC



Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com Via JCN Newswire https://ift.tt/2pbRN02

デンソー、2021年3月期第1四半期 決算発表

Aichi, Japan, Jul 31, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - 株式会社デンソーは本日、2021年3月期第1四半期決算を発表しました。

決算資料
四半期ごとの決算短信・決算ダイジェスト・決算説明会資料を掲載しています。

2021年3月期決算
第1四半期決算発表
第1四半期決算短信(PDF:390KB)
https://bit.ly/2D3YmuQ
第1四半期決算ダイジェスト(PDF:847KB)
https://bit.ly/2D4s2YN
決算説明会プレゼンテーション資料(PDF:1.4MB)
https://bit.ly/3hRrKmF

本リリースの詳細は下記をご参照ください。
https://www.denso.com/jp/ja/investors/library/settlement/

概要:株式会社デンソー

詳細は https://www.denso.com/jp/ja/ をご覧ください。



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7/30/20

BluE Nexusとトヨタ、電動化車両の普及加速に向け電動化システム販売体制を強化

Toyota City, Japan, Jul 31, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - 株式会社BluE Nexus(ブルーイーネクサス、以下BluE Nexus)とトヨタ自動車株式会社(以下、トヨタ)は、さらなる電動化車両の普及加速に向けて連携し、電動化関連商材の競争力と、顧客に提供する技術サポート、サービスなど販売体制の強化を図ります。

BluE Nexusは、2019年4月の会社設立以来、電動化車両に必要不可欠な電動駆動モジュールの開発・販売と、その制御適合サービスを手掛けてまいりました。

他方トヨタは、完成車メーカーである強みを活かし、THS(トヨタハイブリッドシステム)等、クルマのパワートレーン全体のシステムを他社に販売してまいりました。

電動化車両の普及加速にむけて、BluE Nexusがこれまで手掛けてきた電動駆動モジュールのラインナップに、トヨタが持つエンジン、電池等の周辺ユニット、これらの制御適合技術を加えることで、両社の強みを活かし、世界中のあらゆるお客様のご要望にお応えしてまいります。

また、上記の実現に向けて、トヨタはBluE Nexusに新たに10%出資いたします。今後は電動化システムの販売窓口についてはBluE Nexusとし(※)、技術についてはトヨタがサポートすることで、お互いの強みを活かした販売体制を構築してまいります。

(※)燃料電池システムの販売窓口は引き続きトヨタで実施

BluE Nexusとトヨタは、電動化システムの競争力を強化し、持続可能な社会の実現に向け、電動車のさらなる普及に貢献してまいります。

本リリースの詳細は下記URLをご参照ください。
https://global.toyota/jp/newsroom/corporate/33344290.html

概要:トヨタ自動車株式会社

詳細は http://toyota.jp/ をご覧ください。



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Honda、「Honda e」をホームページで先行公開

TOKYO, Jul 31, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Hondaは、8月に発表を予定している「Honda e(ホンダ イー)」に関する情報を、本日、ホームページで先行公開しました。

Honda eは、Hondaが提案する都市型コミューターとして、新しい時代になじむシンプルでモダンなデザインで、力強くクリーンな走りや、取り回しの良さをモーターと後輪駆動で実現した新型電気自動車(EV)です。2画面の大型タッチパネルモニター「ワイドスクリーン Honda コネクトディスプレー」や、ドアミラーに代わる「サイドカメラミラーシステム」など先進で多彩な機能を搭載。また、AIによる音声認識と情報提供を行う「Honda パーソナル アシスタント」を含む先進のコネクテッド技術等を備え、未来を具現化したEVとして、お客様の移動と暮らしをシームレスに繋げることを目指しました。

Honda e先行公開ページのアドレスは以下の通りです。
https://www.honda.co.jp/honda-e/new/

本リリースの詳細は下記をご参照ください。
https://www.honda.co.jp/news/2020/4200731b.html

概要:本田技研工業株式会社

詳細は www.honda.co.jp をご覧ください。



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Honda、「CIVIC TYPE R」マイナーチェンジモデル発売時期について

TOKYO, Jul 31, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - 新型コロナウイルス感染症拡大に伴う生産活動への影響により、発売を延期しておりました「CIVIC TYPE R(シビック タイプアール)」マイナーチェンジモデルですが、生産拠点での活動再開に伴い、今年の10月発売予定となりますことをご案内いたします。発売を心待ちにしていただいているお客様をお待たせすることとなりましたこと、改めてお詫び申し上げます。

また、国内200台限定販売となるCIVIC TYPE R Limited Edition(シビック タイプアール リミテッド・エディション)に関する情報についても、以下ページで順次ご案内します。
https://www.honda.co.jp/CIVICTYPE-R/new/

本リリースの詳細は下記をご参照ください。
https://www.honda.co.jp/news/2020/4200731a.html

概要:本田技研工業株式会社

詳細は www.honda.co.jp をご覧ください。



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マツダ、「MAZDA MX-30」を今秋国内に導入

HIROSHIMA, Japan, Jul 31, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - マツダ株式会社(以下、マツダ)は、マツダの新世代商品群の第3弾であるコンパクトSUV「MAZDA MX-30(エムエックス サーティー)」を、日本国内に今秋導入いたします。

マツダは、MX-30を第46回東京モーターショー2019にて、マツダ初の量産EVモデルとして世界初公開しました。このたび新たにラインアップに追加するマイルドハイブリッドモデルは、技術開発の長期ビジョン「サステイナブル“Zoom-Zoom”宣言2030」にもとづき、地域ごとに最適な動力源を適用するマルチソリューション戦略の一環として、直噴ガソリンエンジン「SKYACTIV-G 2.0」に独自のマイルドハイブリッドシステム「M HYBRID (エム ハイブリッド)」を組み合わせた「e-SKYACTIV G (イー・スカイアクティブ・ジー)」を搭載します。これにより、静かでスムーズな発進と上質なドライブフィールに加えて、モーターのエンジンアシストによる優れた燃費性能を実現しています。また、EVモデルは、今年度中にリース販売を開始する予定です。

MX-30は、自動車の常識にとらわれることなく、新しい価値の創造に挑戦した、人とクルマの新しい関係を提案するクルマです。デザイン、解放感のある室内空間、自然由来のインテリア素材、お客さまが自由な発想で多彩な楽しみ方を創造していただけるフリースタイルドア。これらを通じて、お客さま自身が自由な発想で、クルマの多彩な楽しみ方を創造し、より自分らしく過ごせる空間を提供します。

マツダは、クルマ本来の魅力である「走る歓び」によって、美しい「地球」と心豊かな「人」・「社会」を実現し、人の心をより元気にすることによって、お客さまとの間に特別な絆を持ったブランドになることを目指してまいります。

本リリースの詳細は下記をご参照ください。
https://newsroom.mazda.com/ja/publicity/release/2020/202007/200731a.html

概要:マツダ株式会社

詳細は www.mazda.co.jp をご覧ください。



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Hua Hong Semiconductor Relies on "8-inch + 12-inch" Strategy to Accelerate Development in IGBT Market

HONG KONG, Jul 31, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - Hua Hong Semiconductor Limited ("Hua Hong Semiconductor" or the "Company", stock code: 1347.HK), a global, leading specialty pure-play foundry, announced that it will fully cooperate with IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) product customers to shape the IGBT ecosystem. So far, the IGBT chips with market competitiveness manufactured by the Company have been rapidly introduced into the markets of new energy vehicles, wind power generation, white smart home appliances, etc., further enriching the IGBT product line and offering a new business growth opportunity to the Company.

IGBT is the core device of energy conversion and transmission, known as "CPU of Power Electronics Industry". As the concepts of Internet of Things (IoT) and low carbon are becoming increasingly popular, the demand for green energy and smart, variable frequency home appliances has become unstoppable and will continue to spur the rapid growth of IGBT market.

As the world's first 8-inch foundry to provide technology for volume production of Field Stop (FS) IGBT, Hua Hong Semiconductor has profound experience in IGBT manufacturing, and has already reached the world-leading level in terms of turn-on voltage drop, turn-off loss, work safety zone and reliability. The Company has the advanced full set of IGBT thin wafer BGBM (Backside Grinding / Backside Metallization) processing technology. Hua Hong Semiconductor offers a wide range of mass-produced IGBTs, with voltages ranging from 600V to 1,700V and currents ranging from 10A to 400A, and has expanded its product portfolio from consumer products to industrial/commercial uses, new energy vehicles, etc. In addition to efforts towards higher power density and lower power loss required for high-voltage power devices, the Company is developing intelligent IGBT technology with on-chip sensors and highly reliable IGBT technology with a new thermal dissipation feature to better serve the growing demand for IGBT products in the global market.

Executive Vice President of Hua Hong Semiconductor Mr. Fan Heng remarked, "Hua Hong Semiconductor has the first 12-inch foundry devoted to power discrete semiconductors in the Chinese mainland and relies on the "8-inch +12-inch" strategy to offer a wider range of differentiated technologies and more adequate capacity. In recent years, the Company has been aiming at medium- and high-end markets and emerging fields to fully develop IGBT business, and has continuously engaged first-class IGBT product companies at home and abroad to cover application fields such as industry, automotive electronics and white goods, so as to secure its leading position in IGBT foundry. As its IGBT technology R&D is progressing well at 12-inch production line, the Company is expected to provide more competitive IGBT foundry solutions for global customers in the future."

About Hua Hong Semiconductor
Hua Hong Semiconductor Limited ("Hua Hong Semiconductor", stock code: 1347.HK) (the "Company") is a global, leading pure-play foundry with specialty process platforms uniquely focused on embedded non-volatile memory ("eNVM"), power discrete, analog & power management, and logic & RF. Of special note is the Company's outstanding quality control system that satisfies the strict requirements of automotive chip manufacturing. The Company is part of the Huahong Group, an enterprise group whose main business is IC manufacturing, with advanced "8+12" production line technology.

The Company presently operates three 8-inch wafer fabrication facilities within the Huahong Group (HH Fab1, HH Fab2, and HH Fab3) in Jinqiao and Zhangjiang, Shanghai, with a total monthly 8-inch wafer capacity of approximately 180,000 wafers. The Company also operates a 12-inch wafer fabrication facility (HH Fab7) with the planned monthly capacity of forty thousand 12-inch wafers in Wuxi's National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone. Formal incorporation of and start of operations at HH Fab7 were achieved in 2019. In the Chinese mainland, it has become a leading 12-inch semiconductor production line devoted to specialty processes and is the first 12-inch foundry devoted to power discrete semiconductors.

For more information, please visit: www.huahonggrace.com



Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

source http://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/60544/

5G powers up IoT

HONG KONG, Jul 31, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - Communications technology reached a historic milestone at the beginning of April this year as Hong Kong's fifth-generation mobile (5G) network was officially fully connected, linking all major communication equipment.

A 5G network provides much more than just increased bandwidth and speed - 5G provides the opportunity to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) technology to bring the much-discussed Internet of Things (IoT) out of the laboratory and into the real world. To give people from all walks of life a better understanding of 5G networks, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) held the Tech Trends Symposium 2020 - The Future of Intelligent Connectivity on 28 July. Forming part of the HKTDC's Summer Sourcing Weeks | Go ONLINE virtual trade fair (27 July-7 August), the symposium was streamed online. At a session titled "Empowering a Connected Future with 5G", industry leaders introduced the latest developments in 5G networks and expressed the hope that Hong Kong will keep pace with the world in moving towards 5G and building a smart city.

Research focus

5G networks could turn the established business-to-customer (B2C) model on its head and profoundly change consumers' experiences, said Justin Chuang, Vice President, Communications Technologies at the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI).

Citing examples, he said real-time augmented reality (AR), a 360-degree visual experience and ultra-clear imaging will profoundly change traditional marketing and publicity models. Business-to-business (B2B) transactions could expand in scale, while autonomous vehicles, smart offices and smart factories could be linked up through 5G systems to improve productivity.

Manufacturing reworked

More importantly, Mr Chuang pointed out, 5G networks could deploy artificial intelligence (AI) and a marriage of the two would completely change the ecology of manufacturing. Factories would be able to use automated vehicles, robots and monitoring sensors. AI applications, instead of human managers, would coordinate and monitor this fully automated production system. Human engineering expertise could be applied to remotely formulating workflows and ordering work patterns. The saved human resources could then concentrate on quality monitoring and decision-making, said Mr Chuang. He believes 5G is not only a new era of networks but also a way to promote the progress of the entire city.

ICT overhaul

The April 5G launch in Hong Kong saw telecommunications companies swiftly rolling out services on networks the city's main telecommunications companies had set up.

Henry Wong, Head of Strategic Wireless Technology & Core Networks at local telecommunications company HKT Limited, said network technology in Hong Kong has advanced step by step in recent decades from voice and data Internet access to the latest 5G networks. The speed and usage pattern of the network had improved. During the 2G and 3G eras, watching videos was just about viewing. With 4G came high-definition videos and video conferences but the network was prone to time delays and freezes or even bad frames on screen.

5G, however, supports not only a wide range of visual innovations such as high-definition multi-dimensional 360-degree images, but also interactivity thanks to virtual reality (VR) technology which enables the screen view to change to match users' movements and become whatever the user wants to see.

4G technology was unable to fully support VR, and there were lags and delays in transmitting images, which greatly weakened the application of VR, Mr Wong added.

Changes are also impacting television broadcasting. Citing the example of HKT's pay TV, Mr Wong said on-demand viewing, as opposed to the traditional broadcast-by-schedule model, has been introduced in recent years and audiences can freely choose viewing times for content such as concerts, sports events and more without the limitation of a schedule, which improves convenience. The 5G network can combine these two modes to give high-definition, freely selectable content, even including 360-degree virtual-reality images, presented directly to the audience, he remarked.

Property play

In addition to expanding network bandwidth, 5G permits the era of the Internet of Things (IoT) to begin in earnest, according to Andrew Young, Associate Director (Innovation) for Sino Group, A leading Hong Kong real-estate developer.

Mr Young said 5G networks could bring in a raft of Massive IoT technologies such as smart building, logistics tracking and smart agriculture. The networks could also permit time-dependent Critical IoT applications such as Remote Medical, Traffic Safety Control and Industrial Automation.

IoT applications are more reliable on 5G networks with less time delay and the ability to process large amounts of data quickly and efficiently. In the real-estate sector 5G networks could be used in such applications analysing the flow of people in shopping malls and gauging their consumption habits, helping managements adjust the distribution of stores and arrange activities based on the analysis.

These 5G technology applications could become "pervasive". Mr Young pointed out that 5G can handle a large amount of data but the subsequent data processing and storage would inevitably raise network security concerns. While the networks develop rapidly, personal information and network security should also be protected, so the 5G network can continue to grow healthily.

Noting the potential of smart buildings and related technologies, Sino Group established the Sino Creative Research and Development Office in 2018 to monitor related technology trends and introduce technologies such as artificial intelligence (AR) and robotics into the group's business. It analyses the potential of innovative technology, including 5G, under three criteria - business model, operation process and customer experience.

Websites
- Summer Sourcing Weeks | Go ONLINE official website: https://ssw.hktdc.com/
- Seminar registration: https://ssw.hktdc.com/en/intelligence-hub.html
- Summer Sourcing Weeks | Go ONLINE promotion video: https://bit.ly/2ZYiwiG
- HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com

# Note to editors: considering the impact of the pandemic, the HKTDC has changed the dates for several exhibitions and conferences, at the same time as continuing to create business opportunities for enterprises through other channels. Details of the latest event arrangements can be found at https://bit.ly/2BbhSVh

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn
Contact:
Christine Kam, Tel: +852 2584 4514, Email: christine.kam@hktdc.org Agnes Wat, Tel: +852 2584 4554, Email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org


Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

source http://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/60541/

Showa Aluminum Can Has a Ceremony to Celebrate the Completion of the Third Production Base in Vietnam

TOKYO, Jul 30, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Showa Aluminum Can Corporation (SAC), a consolidated subsidiary of Showa Denko (SDK; TSE:4004), headquartered in Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo, had a ceremony on July 29 to celebrate the completion of its third base in Vietnam to produce aluminum cans. This new production base (Ba Ria-Vung Tau Factory) is in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, which is in the southern part of Vietnam.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau Factory is the third production base of Hanacans Joint Stock Company (Hanacans), which is a consolidated Vietnamese subsidiary of SAC, and has production lines with a capacity to produce 1.3 billion can bodies per year*. In addition to the construction of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Factory, Hanacans is now installing an additional line to produce can ends in its Bac Ninh Factory located in the suburb of Hanoi (Bac Ninh Province)*.

SAC acquired shares in Hanacans in May 2014, and continues to have Hanacans introduce SAC's leading production technologies and quality control system since then. Hanacans has been successfully increasing the sales of aluminum cans in northern and central parts of Vietnam. As a result of the completion of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Factory, Hanacans has established an aluminum can production system with three production bases that covers northern, central, and southern parts of Vietnam. Now Hanacans has a capacity to produce 3.3 billion can bodies and 3.3 billion can ends per year.

The Showa Denko Group's Vision is to make itself a "KOSEIHA Company" (a group of KOSEIHA Businesses that can maintain profitability and stability at high levels over a long period). In Vietnam which extends north and south, the Showa Denko Group will enhance the value of customer's experience by making the most of its aluminum can production system that can quickly respond to the demand of the market, thereby expanding its business in Vietnam. Thus, the Showa Denko Group will establish a KOSEIHA Business in the rapidly growing Vietnamese market.

*For detail, please refer to our news release announced on April 25, 2019, "Showa Aluminum Can to Establish Third Production Base in Vietnam and Expand Existing Can End Production Line." https://www.sdk.co.jp/english/news/2019/27539.html
お問合せ先:
Showa Denko K.K., CSR & Corporate Communication Office, Tel: 81-3-5470-3235




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HKTDC Entrepreneur Day: Start-ups get insights into overcoming challenges

HONG KONG, Jul 30, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Local start-ups have been rising to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic with agility and creativity. This year's HKTDC Entrepreneur Day (E-Day), organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), underwent a transformation in terms of format and content, with a series of seminars broadcast live on 16 and 17 July giving start-ups valuable insights into finding a path forward during this difficult time.

Running under the theme "Revive, Redefine", the 2020 E-Day invited a high-powered panel of speakers to speak at 19 online seminars, offering insights into areas such as entrepreneurship, regional opportunities and technological developments to equip start-ups for future challenges. Virtual business matching sessions were also arranged, connecting local start-ups with companies in Japan, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and the United States to help them continue to capture business opportunities amid the current economic adversity.

Insights into the future: four "bigs" and 10 "game changers"

Broadcasting from Switzerland, globally renowned futurist Gerd Leonhard, CEO of The Futures Agency, shared in "T-Chat: Futurising Your Business: Renaissance from the Age of Digitalisation" the trends for entrepreneurship and opportunities for start-ups to thrive in the "new normal". Mr Leonhard explained that there would not be a post-COVID-19 return to normality, and that the new normal would be very different.

The world is undergoing a Great Transformation, he said, with four "bigs" playing a leading role - Big Tech, Big Media, Big State and Big Health. "Technology is everywhere. Without technology, we wouldn't be working from home, we couldn't find new ways to address the crisis. We couldn't analyse all the data. Without the AI (artificial intelligence), we couldn't have early warning systems," Mr Leonhard said. He added that the state helps to figure out how to restart the economy and to support the people, and that healthcare is becoming the number one issue. "We are going to have to put more money, more research into healthcare development and biotechnology," he said, "We all are addicted to the media now because we are at home. Big media is exploding. These four things together have huge opportunities." The result, he said, would be "HellVen", explaining it could be heaven or it could be hell, depending on how it is handled.

The future presents utter uncertainty, Mr Leonhard posited. Businesses needed to abandon traditional, pre-COVID ways of doing things and adapt to the VUCA normal - volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. He advised entrepreneurs to flip VUCA and turn around the threats of the pandemic with "velocity, unorthodoxy, co-creation and awesomeness - to respond with speed and come up with new ideas, to work together, and to create solutions that can make a difference."

Technologies are developing extremely fast, and the COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating this further. The crisis and technological potential would drive extremely rapid and very disruptive change, he said, with more progress over the next decade than the world had seen over the previous century.

Mr Leonhard said 10 game-changers would shape developments over the coming decade, with the COVID-19 pandemic accelerating the impetus for change. The first game-changer would be "data everything" - with data as the "new oil", businesses need to have the numbers at hand to go forward. "Lots of start-ups in Hong Kong and all over the world are dealing with data," he said. This leads to the second game-changer - "cloud everything", with vast amounts of data calling for copious storage space. The next game-changer would be "connected everything" - through the Internet of Things (IoT) not just everyone but everything, be it appliances or vehicles, will be connected through the internet.

Another game-changer would be "compute everything", with quantum computers that are virtually unlimited in computing power. The next game-changer is "understand anything", whereby natural language processing will enable us to speak to machines as if they were humans. "Smart everything" will see machine learning greatly increasing the ability of machines and systems to adapt to change. Transactions will join communications as a game-changer, as blockchain technologies greatly expand the scope for, and reliability of, transactions.

Mr Leonhard said another game-changing development that will have great relevance to anyone trading in goods is the distribution of production. Improvements in the scope and quality of 3D printing mean items can be produced anywhere. "We will be able to print anything, from our tennis shoes to our wrist watches," he explained. Massive increases in the power of media technologies will expand the scope of media offerings, enabling people to "see everything" in the future through technologies such as virtual reality - and the current trend for working from home had given this a big boost. Improvements in genetic engineering mean it will be possible to "change anything" - a development that has massive ethical implications.

Panellists who appeared alongside Mr Leonhard at the seminar included Karena Belin, CEO & Co-founder of WHub; Toa Charm, Associate Professor, Business School, the Chinese University of Hong Kong; and Herbert Chia, Venture Partner at Sequoia Capital China. Mr Charm said that many Asian conglomerates rejected technological innovation in the past, and it was only when faced with growing competition that they began to open their doors to change. Referencing the current rapidly transforming business environment, he said: "All Asian conglomerates are opening up their doors to new technologies. They are thinking: 'I don't know about this, but I need it because my shopping malls, my hotels, my properties - nobody goes there to buy now'. I think this presents a golden opportunity for all of us - start-ups and technology companies, and enablers like incubators and accelerators."

In response to a question about leadership and how human skills are becoming more valuable, Mr Chia, said: "At this moment, when talking to a lot of CEOs in the field, I find there's a gap between the knowledge they already have and the knowledge needed to translate a business problem into a technology solution. Or, the other way round, where I have a technology solution, but I don't know what to fix." He believes successful leaders will be those who can bridge this gap and give their companies a clear direction.

Agility and understanding social norms

At the "Revive, Redefine" plenary session, William Ip, Managing Director of Carousell Hong Kong, and Crystal Pang, Co-founder of Pickupp, shared tips on entrepreneurship and their personal experiences of turning creative ideas into viable business ventures.

Mr Ip shared three tips with the audience: be agile, be a good listener and keep your business alive. Quoting celebrated scientist Stephen Hawking, who said that intelligence is the ability to adapt to change, Mr Ip highlighted the importance of agility for start-ups and entrepreneurs, especially in a challenging climate. He said that business drivers will change, and that development teams must be ready to adapt. "Being a start-up, we need to act very quickly and stay very close to the market. Sometimes you make decisions that seems to be correct at the time, but we also have to be prudent, agile, and humble - if that decision doesn't turn out to be the right decision, we need to change quickly," Mr Ip explained.

His second tip was to be a good listener. Businesses have to listen to their target audience and address the needs of the market segment, he said. As the retail sector has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, Carousell has been leveraging its platform to help small and medium-sized enterprises get online and connect with more customers. Lastly, Mr Ip said the most important goal for start-ups must be to stay alive as a business. Enterprises need to prepare for an uncertain future and think ahead to understand what the world will be like tomorrow.

Ms Pang offered insights into the classic question of how both technology and understanding social norms can be used to improve services. Customers want things cheap, flexible and traceable. She noted that while it is now very inflexible to operate a traditional logistics fleet, crowdsourcing was a viable option. "There is a lot of idle capacity in the city, and a lot of people with downtime," she said. "Students, maybe they work until 3pm then have four or five hours of downtime. Semi-retirees, they are still very healthy and can run around and do neighbourhood deliveries. Are we able to utilise them effectively, as long as there is good technology to trace and do quality control?"

Ms Pang also explained how advanced computerised systems were necessary when employing a more flexible and dynamic delivery system. For Pickupp's platform, thousands of deliveries will go out at any given time, all with different weights and dimensions, which need to be bundled together at the lowest cost.

Creating happiness can lead to growth

Katherine Cheung, Chief Marketing Officer at online education platform Snapask, shared on how the start-up has been able to grow its business in a difficult environment at a seminar titled "From Crisis to Chances: Unleashing Opportunities in Challenging Times". She described online education as "hard to start, harder to win".

With the goal of offering the best online learning experience, the Snapask team conducted in-depth research and ran numerous surveys to identify what would make users happy. They found that an instant experience and instant support were important for online learners, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, the start-up made one small product change, to move all the fast-responding and always-online tutors to every single page possible whenever users log in so they can offer immediate support. Ms Cheung said that faster matching of students and tutors has resulted in more referrals and retentions, so "creating happiness means growth," she said.

Photo download: https://bit.ly/334i18E
お問合せ先:
Please contact Creative Consulting Group or HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs Department: Creative Consulting Group June Wong Tel: +852 3159 2909 / +852 6986 5822 Email: june.wong@creativegp.com Peggy Mak Tel: +852 3159 2982 / +852 9482 3144 Email: peggy.mak@creativegp.com HKTDC Leslie Ng Tel: +852 2584 4239 Email: leslie.ss.ng@hktdc.org




Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com Via JCN Newswire https://ift.tt/2pbRN02

Made-in-Singapore Cancer Drug ETC-159 Advances Further in Clinical Trials

SINGAPORE, Jul 30, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Made-in-Singapore cancer drug, ETC-159, has achieved a new developmental milestone in achieving "First Patient First Visit[1]" in Phase 1B. The first dose of ETC-159 has been administered to patients in this new phase of clinical testing, which for the first time, will look at efficacy in addition to assessing the safety of ETC-159 in treating different types of cancers.

This clinical study will include subgroups of colorectal, endometrial and ovarian cancer patients from two sites in Singapore (National University Cancer Institute, Singapore and National Cancer Centre Singapore) and up to seven clinical sites in the United States, including four confirmed sites, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, Texas); University of Colorado (Aurora, Colorado); Washington University in St. Louis (Missouri); and Duke University (Durham, North Carolina). The trial is expected to be completed by 2023 at the latest.

ETC-159 was jointly developed by Duke-NUS Medical School (Duke-NUS) and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and first entered clinical trials in June 2015[2]. ETC-159 targets a range of cancers including colorectal, endometrial, ovarian and pancreatic cancers, which contribute to a significant fraction of Singapore's cancer burden. A subset of these cancers are caused by hyperactivity in a cell signalling pathway known as the Wnt pathway.

ETC-159 is an upstream inhibitor of the Wnt pathway and the clinical trial will determine to what extent this drug can slow or halt the growth of Wnt-high cancers or if ETC-159 can enhance the activity of immunotherapy in those patients that normally do not respond to immunotherapy. It has previously been shown that increased expression of Wnt pathway related genes is associated with drug resistance and exclusion of tumour-killing immune cells in the targeted types of cancers. The clinical trial uses ETC-159 to block the Wnt pathway so that immune cells can infiltrate the tumour. The trial will also combine ETC-159 with the immune checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab to stimulate the immune cells to kill tumour cells.

The Experimental Drug Development Centre (EDDC), a national platform for drug discovery and development, brought ETC-159 to the successful completion of Phase 1A clinical trials in July 2018. In that phase, proof of the drug's mechanism of action was achieved and a safe dose level established in 32 patients with advanced solid tumours.

EDDC, together with POLARIS[3] at A*STAR's Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), and the Diagnostics Development (DxD) Hub, have also developed a novel diagnostic test in agreement with the US FDA, to identify a particular subgroup of colorectal cancer patients predicted to respond well to ETC-159 due to the presence of gene fusions involving R-spondin genes (RSPO2 or RSPO3) in their tumours. Such patients comprise only about 8% of colorectal cancers and will be identified upfront, based on left-over tumour tissue to be included in Phase 1B of the study. The test will be performed at POLARIS for all clinical samples from this trial.

"A significant milestone for EDDC and Singapore has been achieved with the progression of ETC-159 into Phase 1B clinical trials. We are grateful for the collaboration and input of our partners, such as Duke-NUS, POLARIS, clinical investigators and others within Singapore and beyond, which has enabled the successful completion of the Phase 1A trial and led us to initiate this next critical stage of ETC-159 development. We are optimistic about rapidly recruiting patients for the next phase of the clinical trial given the unmet need and opportunity ETC-159 brings to these patients, and will continue leveraging great science to make great medicines." - Professor Damian O'Connell, CEO EDDC, A*STAR

"The progression of ETC-159 to this exciting new phase of study is the result of a tremendous Singapore team effort, spanning from basic bench science to international clinical trials. With this critical study, we will learn whether ETC-159, by targeting a set of cancers that has previously been untreatable, will indeed help patients in Singapore and internationally. This important milestone is yet another testament to the research excellence and strong collaborations Singapore can achieve with focused effort. I hope this is just one of many such achievements." - Professor David Virshup, Duke-NUS Medical School

"This study will help address a critical and unmet need in gastrointestinal cancers. The novel design to molecularly screening for R-spondin fusion colorectal cancers that may be driven by the Wnt pathway and to target them with ETC-159 and immunotherapy has never been done before. Furthermore, most gastrointestinal cancers particularly colorectal cancers do not respond to immunotherapy. This may be due to suppression of immune cells in the tumour by Wnt-related pathways. We hope that by combining ETC-159 and immunotherapy we can circumvent this problem and achieve long-lasting responses for our patients." - Dr Matthew Ng, Senior Consultant, National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS)

"The incidence of ovarian and endometrial cancers is rising in the developed world, with many patients presenting at advanced stages of the disease. Despite initial responses to chemotherapy, the majority of patients with advanced ovarian and endometrial cancer will experience disease recurrence and eventually develop treatment refractory disease. At the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS), we have long recognised this unmet medical need and have consistently been working with various academic and industry partners to develop new therapeutic approaches for these hard to treat gynaecological cancers. This clinical trial represents a novel and exciting therapeutic concept for the treatment of ovarian and endometrial cancers. In our continual drive to find better treatments for our patients, we certainly look forward to adding this study to the burgeoning portfolio of early phase trials at the NCIS Developmental Therapeutics Unit." - Associate Professor David Tan, Senior Consultant, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS)

For more information on the ETC-159 clinical trials, please visit:
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02521844

Relevant images can be downloaded from:
https://tinyurl.com/y3kodlbk

For media queries and clarifications, please contact:
Mr Robin Chan
Head, Corporate Communications
Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Tel: +65 6826 6281
HP: +65 9830 2610
Email: robin_chan@hq.a-star.edu.sg

Lekshmy Sreekumar, Ph.D.
Communications
Duke-NUS Medical School
Tel: +65 6516 1138
Email: lekshmy_sreekumar@duke-nus.edu.sg

About the Experimental Drug Development Centre (EDDC)

The Experimental Drug Development Centre (EDDC) is a national platform for drug discovery and development formed in 2019 from the integration of A*STAR drug discovery and development units, namely, the Experimental Therapeutics Centre (ETC), Drug Discovery and Development (D3), and Experimental Biotherapeutics Centre (EBC). Together, these three units have forged partnerships with more than 70 academic institutions and 25 companies, locally and internationally, with close to 20 licensing deals executed.

The Centre will continue to champion public-private partnerships in the drug development industry. EDDC will allow for better coordination and optimised use of public sector resources, giving industry partners and Singapore greater ability to translate discoveries into new medicines for patients.

EDDC possesses a full range of drug discovery capabilities, including assay development, high throughput screening, antibody cloning, medicinal chemistry and ADME/toxicology. These capabilities allow EDDC to identify drug hits and leads, and develop them to the preclinical candidate stage in-house. In addition, EDDC enables translational drug development activities by having the internal expertise to support candidates through First-in-Human/Patient Phase 1 studies as well as being able to conduct Proof-of-Mechanism or Proof-of-Concept Studies.

About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is Singapore's lead public sector R&D agency, spearheading economic-oriented research to advance scientific discovery and develop innovative technology. Through open innovation, we collaborate with our partners in both the public and private sectors to benefit society.

As a Science and Technology Organisation, A*STAR bridges the gap between academia and industry. Our research creates economic growth and jobs for Singapore, and enhances lives by contributing to societal benefits such as improving outcomes in healthcare, urban living, and sustainability.

We play a key role in nurturing and developing a diversity of talent and leaders in our Agency and research entities, the wider research community and industry. A*STAR's R&D activities span biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering, with research entities primarily located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis. For ongoing news, visit www.a-star.edu.sg.

Follow us on
- Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HQastar/
- LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-star
- Instagram https://www.instagram.com/astarsingapore/
- YouTube https://www.youtube.com/astartv

About Duke-NUS Medical School

Duke-NUS is Singapore's flagship graduate entry medical school, established in 2005 with a strategic, government-led partnership between two world-class institutions: Duke University School of Medicine and the National University of Singapore (NUS). Through an innovative curriculum, students at Duke-NUS are nurtured to become multi-faceted 'Clinicians Plus' poised to steer the healthcare and biomedical ecosystem in Singapore and beyond. A leader in ground-breaking research and translational innovation, Duke-NUS has gained international renown through its five signature research programmes and nine centres. The enduring impact of its discoveries is amplified by its successful Academic Medicine partnership with Singapore Health Services (SingHealth), Singapore's largest healthcare group. This strategic alliance has spawned 15 Academic Clinical Programmes, which harness multi-disciplinary research and education to transform medicine and improve lives. For more information, please visit www.duke-nus.edu.sg.

[1] "First Patient First Visit" is a term used in the pharmaceutical industry to refer to the administration of the first dose of a compound or drug product to the first patient at his or her first visit in a clinical trial.
[2] "First made-in-Singapore cancer drug enters clinical testing:" A*STAR press release, July 16, 2015. National Archives of Singapore.
[3] POLARIS (Personalized OMIC Lattice for Advanced Research and Improving Stratification) https://www.a-star.edu.sg/polaris/



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Wintermar Offshore (WINS:JK) Reports 1H2020 Results

JAKARTA, Jul 30, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - The COVID-19 pandemic and plunging oil prices cause contract postponement and cancellation, resulting in 17% YOY fall in Wintermar's 1H2020 revenue compared to 1H2019, with a gross loss of US$658,855 for the first half of 2020.

--COVID-19 Pandemic Impact

After a strong first quarter where the Company made a profit, the combined effect of the global "lockdowns" caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the breakdown in OPEC talks in March led to a sharp drop in oil prices in April.

When the COVID-19 pandemic escalated, the global economic impact was swift and severe. This uncertainty led to cancellations and delays in offshore drilling operations globally.

Travel restrictions imposed domestically as well as globally also impacted our ability to carry out crew changes. This meant that the crew who had completed their contracts were not allowed to travel home while relievers could not start work.

The Company implemented COVID-19 protocols to protect the health and safety of our staff and crew, including full Work From Home procedures from late March 2020 until end of June 2020. Strict controls were imposed on visitors on board the fleet. Masks, sanitisers, cleaning and disinfecting equipment were supplied to all vessels, and COVID-19 drills were carried out on board as well as on shore. Although absolutely essential, these also added to operational costs.

By early July 2020, in line with the Jakarta government's move to Phase 1 of the "New Normal", the Company started to allow some employees back to work in the office, subject to a guidance of 30% capacity, compulsory mask usage and social distancing measures. Some crew changes became possible with some safety protocols including compulsory quarantines imposed by some charterers.

--Owned Vessel Division

Stating COVID-19 as the reason for being unable to continue with safe operations, some clients postponed commencement or even terminated their drilling projects since May 2020. Outside Indonesia, two vessels which were delivered in March are still awaiting the commencement of a contract. The drilling project in the Makassar strait which was terminated in mid-May impacted several of the Company's vessels. As a result, fleet utilization rate fell from 70% in 1Q2020 to 60% in 2Q2020, with high tier vessels the worst affected.

Revenue from Owned Vessels for 1H2020 declined by 7% YOY largely due to a 26% quarterly drop in revenue in 2Q2020 compared to 1Q2020. Despite the lower revenue, the gross loss from the Owned Vessels Division reduced by 42% YOY in 1H2020 compared to 1H2019. This can be attributed to the Company's efforts to streamline the fleet and operational structure, which contributed to a reduction of 16% YOY in depreciation and 26% in maintenance costs.

Operational costs however, rose by 22% YOY to US$1.8 million due to increased international operations as well as extra costs related to COVID procedures and quarantine requirements.

--Chartering and Other Services

As economic activity shut down globally in 2Q2020, chartering revenues fell sharply by 42% to US$3.6 million, resulting in a 57% fall in the contribution from Chartering Division. Other services also fell in tandem to record a profit of US$325,941 for the first half, from US$879,759 in 1H2019.

The Company booked a gross loss of US$658,855 for 1H2020, -4% YOY compared to 1H2019.

--Indirect Expenses and Operating Loss

The success of the cost efficiency measures arising from the reorganization of the fleet can be seen in the 19% reduction in indirect expenses. The largest component of indirect expenses, which is staff costs, has fallen by 19% YOY to US$2 million in 1H2020.

Over the past 18 months, the Company has sold 7 vessels and laid up 6 older vessels and streamlined the shore team structure. The repositioning of the Company's fleet to focus on mid and high tier vessels which has been in process over the past two years has resulted in a leaner shore base with lower overheads.

The Operating loss for 1H2020 fell 16% to US$3.7 million from 1H2019.

--Other Income, Expenses and Net Attributable profit

In line with the reduction of debt, interest expenses fell 17% YOY to US$1.9 million in 1H2020. Unfortunately, the pandemic also impacted the equity in net earnings of associated companies, which recorded a loss of US$0.22 million for 1H2020 compared to a profit in 1H2019. The Company booked a profit of US$1.2 million on the sale of a vessel in 1H2020 and a forex gain of US$0.4 million.

For 1H2020, the Company booked a net loss attributable to shareholders of US$3.97 million, reduced by 16% YOY from 1H2019.

EBITDA was lower at US$6.7 million for 1H2020, compared to US$8.1 million for 1H2019.

--Oil and Gas Industry

The second quarter of 2020 made history as oil prices became negative for the first time, as the lack of demand caused inventory build up, while the lack of US Oil storage capacity caused WTI Oil prices to sink to a negative US$37 price in April. On the oil supply side, OPEC+ responded with a coordinated production cut of up to 9 million bpd, while US Shale producers started shutting in their wells. Oil demand bottomed out in April 2020 and started improving in May 2020 as many countries started to ease the "lockdowns" necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This has allowed oil prices to gradually normalize again at around US$40 per barrel.

The unprecedented scale of the simultaneous shut down of cities and countries has triggered an oversupply of oil which will take months to be drawn down. For the full year 2020, most researchers predict oil demand to be 9% below that of 2019. Equilibrium in demand and supply of oil is expected to be reached only in 2021.

According to Clarkson research, at the start of 2020 there were 65 fields scheduled to commence this year but after the outbreak of COVID-19, most were delayed and only 28 projects are still expected to continue this year, with others delayed till 2021.

The worst hit sector is US Shale production, where producers have been forced to shut in wells, and it is looking unlikely for some of these wells to be reinstated when prices recover. Should oil prices recover, it is likely that offshore oil activity will resume since US Shale producers may find it hard to fund future capex. Therefore the outlook on oil and gas in the coming years is more optimistic.

--Outlook for Offshore Support Vessels (OSV)

2020 was supposed to be a year of recovery as utilization rates picked up and charter rates were starting to rise and the beginning of the year. The offshore vessel industry had been enjoying a better equilibrium due to high scrapping activity in the past few years. Due to poor charter rates, there has been hardly any new building orders in DP vessels in the past years.

COVID-19 related project postponements arising from May this year will cause lower utilization rates for the rest of 2020, resulting in more financial stress for the industry. It will again require resilience for OSV companies to weather the next few months.

Because of the poor charter rates and reluctance of banks to finance OSVs, there is unlikely to be any new supply of OSVs in the coming year. This bodes well for a recovery in the industry when the oil market reaches a balance again in 2021. Some researchers also suggest a shortage of oil is likely from 2023 due to the lack of investment in reserves over the past few years.

There are still ongoing drilling projects being tendered in Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia for commencement in 2021 and beyond. Although the pandemic has pushed out start dates, these projects are likely to continue when oil prices show some stability.

--Strategy and Outlook

During 2Q2020, management has already put in place several measures to reduce costs through down manning vessels, a freeze on new hires and postponing non essential expenses. To improve revenue, the Marketing team has fixed some spot contracts to mitigate the impact of contracts which had been postponed or terminated due to COVID-19.

As cash flows were impacted by delays in invoicing and slowing accounts receivables from the lockdown measures, management approached bankers and were successful in securing a rescheduling of principal repayments. With the agreement of major lenders, US$15.6 million of principal repayments have been reclassified from short term to long term loans, providing a higher degree of comfort for the Company's cash flow outlook in 2020 and 2021. The lightened debt repayment for the next 18 months will underpin the financial sustainability of the Company during this uncertain year.

Management efforts in the past few years to expand internationally have repositioned Wintermar. The Company is now ranked 7th in the Asia Pacific region by Clarksons and is well positioned to compete as the regional oil and gas industry recovers from the aftermath of the pandemic.

Contracts on hand as at end June 2020 amount to US$71.7 million.
お問合せ先:
Ms. Pek Swan Layanto, CFA Investor Relations PT Wintermar Offshore Marine Tbk Tel: +62-21 530 5201 Ext 401 Email: investor_relations@wintermar.com




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エーザイとMSD、抗がん剤「レンビマ(R)」について日本において切除不能な胸腺がんに係る適応追加を申請

TOKYO, Jul 30, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - エーザイ株式会社(本社:東京都、代表執行役CEO:内藤晴夫、以下 エーザイ)とMerck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., U.S.A.の日本法人であるMSD株式会社(本社:東京都千代田区、代表取締役社長: ヤニー・ウェストハイゼン、以下 MSD)は、このたび、マルチキナーゼ阻害剤「レンビマ(R)」(一般名:レンバチニブメシル酸塩)について、エーザイが日本において切除不能な胸腺がんに係る適応追加を 申請したことをお知らせします。本剤は本年6月、当該適応で希少疾病用医薬品(オーファンドラッグ)の指定を受けています。

本申請は、国内で実施された医師主導による非盲検、単群、多施設共同臨床第II相試験(NCCH1508試験)の結果に基づくものです。本試験では、少なくとも1レジメン以上のプラチナ製剤による前治療歴のある胸腺がん患者様42人が登録され、「レンビマ」単剤の有効性・安全性が評価されました。

主要評価項目である奏効率(中央判定による評価)は38.1%(90%信頼区間 (CI): 25.6-52.0)であり、信頼区間の下限値が事前に設定した統計的基準である閾値奏効率10%を超えたことから、本試験の主要評価項目が達成されました。主な治療関連の有害事象(上位3つ)は、高血圧(88.1%)、蛋白尿(71.4%)、手掌・足底発赤知覚不全症候群(69.0%)であり、既承認の適応と同様の安全性プロファイルでした。

胸腺がんは、患者数が日本でおよそ140人から200人程度と推定されており、極めて希少な疾患です。切除不能な胸腺がんに対しては、プラチナ製剤を含む一次療法が推奨されていますが、二次療法以降は標準的な治療法が確立していないことから、依然として予後不良な疾患であり、新たな治療薬の開発が望まれています。

エーザイとMSDは、2018年10月より日本において「レンビマ」の情報提供を通じた協業を実施しています。両社は引き続き協業を強化し、本剤によるがん患者様への貢献を最大化していきます。

本リリースの詳細は下記をご参照ください。
https://www.eisai.co.jp/news/2020/news202048.html

概要:エーザイ株式会社

詳細は www.eisai.co.jp をご覧ください。



Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com Via JCN Newswire https://ift.tt/2pbRN02

NECの顔認証を活用した三井不動産グループのホテル「sequence」が営業開始

TOKYO, Jul 30, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - NECの顔認証技術を活用した、三井不動産グループが展開するホテルブランド「sequence」(注1)が8月より営業開始します。New Normalにおける安全・安心なホテル利用に向け、NECの顔認証が非対面でスピーディなチェックイン・アウトという新しい価値を提供します。

新型コロナウイルス感染症が世界的に拡大し、人々の暮らしや経済活動に大きな影響を与えています。また、社会の在り方がNew Normalへと変革していく中、とりわけホテル業界においてその影響は深刻であり、これまでとは違う新しい価値を提供することが必要となっています。

そこで、NECは「sequence」に顔認証技術を活用したスマートホスピタリティサービスを提供し、非対面による接客・スピーディなチェックインを可能にします。対面での接触を減らすとともに、フロントでの人の滞留を回避することで宿泊客・従業員の感染リスクを低減し、New Normalにおける安全・安心なホテル利用に貢献します。

具体的には、宿泊客は、事前に登録した顔情報と予約情報等を紐づけておくことで、チェックイン時に顔認証を利用することが可能です。タブレット端末から顔認証を行うだけで瞬時に予約情報を呼び出し、非対面で簡単にチェックインを完了することができます。さらに、ホテル各客室への入室の際は鍵やカードといったルームキーを使わず、顔認証だけでドアの解錠を行うことができます。

顔認証技術はNECの生体認証「Bio-IDiom」(注2)の中核技術であり、世界No.1の認証精度(注3)を有する顔認証AIエンジン「NeoFace」(注4)を活用しています。なお、本サービスは、顔情報の使用に同意し登録した宿泊客のみ利用することができます。同意を得ていない宿泊客の顔情報保持、および顔の照合を行うことはありません。

NECは、顔認証やAIといった先進技術を活用し、お客様と共にNew Normalにおける安全・安心・公平・効率な社会を実現していきます。

本リリースの詳細は下記をご参照ください。
https://jpn.nec.com/press/202007/20200730_01.html

概要:日本電気株式会社(NEC)

詳細は www.nec.co.jp をご覧ください。



Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com Via JCN Newswire https://ift.tt/2pbRN02

HKTDC Entrepreneur Day: Start-ups get insights into overcoming challenges

HONG KONG, Jul 30, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - Local start-ups have been rising to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic with agility and creativity. This year's HKTDC Entrepreneur Day (E-Day), organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), underwent a transformation in terms of format and content, with a series of seminars broadcast live on 16 and 17 July giving start-ups valuable insights into finding a path forward during this difficult time.


Running under the theme "Revive x Redefine", the 2020 E-Day invited a high-powered panel of speakers to speak at 19 online seminars.


Renowned futurist Gerd Leonhard addressed the "T-Chat: Futurising Your Business: Renaissance from the Age of Digitalisation" seminar and was joined for the discussion by (from left) Karena Belin, CEO & Co-Founder of WHub, Toa Charm, Associate Professor, Business School, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Herbert Chia, Venture Partner at Sequoia Capital China.


At the "Revive, Redefine" plenary session, Crystal Pang, Co-founder of Pickupp, shared tips on entrepreneurship and their personal experiences of turning creative ideas into viable business ventures.


Running under the theme "Revive, Redefine", the 2020 E-Day invited a high-powered panel of speakers to speak at 19 online seminars, offering insights into areas such as entrepreneurship, regional opportunities and technological developments to equip start-ups for future challenges. Virtual business matching sessions were also arranged, connecting local start-ups with companies in Japan, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and the United States to help them continue to capture business opportunities amid the current economic adversity.

Insights into the future: four "bigs" and 10 "game changers"

Broadcasting from Switzerland, globally renowned futurist Gerd Leonhard, CEO of The Futures Agency, shared in "T-Chat: Futurising Your Business: Renaissance from the Age of Digitalisation" the trends for entrepreneurship and opportunities for start-ups to thrive in the "new normal". Mr Leonhard explained that there would not be a post-COVID-19 return to normality, and that the new normal would be very different.

The world is undergoing a Great Transformation, he said, with four "bigs" playing a leading role - Big Tech, Big Media, Big State and Big Health. "Technology is everywhere. Without technology, we wouldn't be working from home, we couldn't find new ways to address the crisis. We couldn't analyse all the data. Without the AI (artificial intelligence), we couldn't have early warning systems," Mr Leonhard said. He added that the state helps to figure out how to restart the economy and to support the people, and that healthcare is becoming the number one issue. "We are going to have to put more money, more research into healthcare development and biotechnology," he said, "We all are addicted to the media now because we are at home. Big media is exploding. These four things together have huge opportunities." The result, he said, would be "HellVen", explaining it could be heaven or it could be hell, depending on how it is handled.

The future presents utter uncertainty, Mr Leonhard posited. Businesses needed to abandon traditional, pre-COVID ways of doing things and adapt to the VUCA normal - volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. He advised entrepreneurs to flip VUCA and turn around the threats of the pandemic with "velocity, unorthodoxy, co-creation and awesomeness - to respond with speed and come up with new ideas, to work together, and to create solutions that can make a difference."

Technologies are developing extremely fast, and the COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating this further. The crisis and technological potential would drive extremely rapid and very disruptive change, he said, with more progress over the next decade than the world had seen over the previous century.

Mr Leonhard said 10 game-changers would shape developments over the coming decade, with the COVID-19 pandemic accelerating the impetus for change. The first game-changer would be "data everything" - with data as the "new oil", businesses need to have the numbers at hand to go forward. "Lots of start-ups in Hong Kong and all over the world are dealing with data," he said. This leads to the second game-changer - "cloud everything", with vast amounts of data calling for copious storage space. The next game-changer would be "connected everything" - through the Internet of Things (IoT) not just everyone but everything, be it appliances or vehicles, will be connected through the internet.

Another game-changer would be "compute everything", with quantum computers that are virtually unlimited in computing power. The next game-changer is "understand anything", whereby natural language processing will enable us to speak to machines as if they were humans. "Smart everything" will see machine learning greatly increasing the ability of machines and systems to adapt to change. Transactions will join communications as a game-changer, as blockchain technologies greatly expand the scope for, and reliability of, transactions.

Mr Leonhard said another game-changing development that will have great relevance to anyone trading in goods is the distribution of production. Improvements in the scope and quality of 3D printing mean items can be produced anywhere. "We will be able to print anything, from our tennis shoes to our wrist watches," he explained. Massive increases in the power of media technologies will expand the scope of media offerings, enabling people to "see everything" in the future through technologies such as virtual reality - and the current trend for working from home had given this a big boost. Improvements in genetic engineering mean it will be possible to "change anything" - a development that has massive ethical implications.

Panellists who appeared alongside Mr Leonhard at the seminar included Karena Belin, CEO & Co-founder of WHub; Toa Charm, Associate Professor, Business School, the Chinese University of Hong Kong; and Herbert Chia, Venture Partner at Sequoia Capital China. Mr Charm said that many Asian conglomerates rejected technological innovation in the past, and it was only when faced with growing competition that they began to open their doors to change. Referencing the current rapidly transforming business environment, he said: "All Asian conglomerates are opening up their doors to new technologies. They are thinking: 'I don't know about this, but I need it because my shopping malls, my hotels, my properties - nobody goes there to buy now'. I think this presents a golden opportunity for all of us - start-ups and technology companies, and enablers like incubators and accelerators."

In response to a question about leadership and how human skills are becoming more valuable, Mr Chia, said: "At this moment, when talking to a lot of CEOs in the field, I find there's a gap between the knowledge they already have and the knowledge needed to translate a business problem into a technology solution. Or, the other way round, where I have a technology solution, but I don't know what to fix." He believes successful leaders will be those who can bridge this gap and give their companies a clear direction.

Agility and understanding social norms

At the "Revive, Redefine" plenary session, William Ip, Managing Director of Carousell Hong Kong, and Crystal Pang, Co-founder of Pickupp, shared tips on entrepreneurship and their personal experiences of turning creative ideas into viable business ventures.

Mr Ip shared three tips with the audience: be agile, be a good listener and keep your business alive. Quoting celebrated scientist Stephen Hawking, who said that intelligence is the ability to adapt to change, Mr Ip highlighted the importance of agility for start-ups and entrepreneurs, especially in a challenging climate. He said that business drivers will change, and that development teams must be ready to adapt. "Being a start-up, we need to act very quickly and stay very close to the market. Sometimes you make decisions that seems to be correct at the time, but we also have to be prudent, agile, and humble - if that decision doesn't turn out to be the right decision, we need to change quickly," Mr Ip explained.

His second tip was to be a good listener. Businesses have to listen to their target audience and address the needs of the market segment, he said. As the retail sector has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, Carousell has been leveraging its platform to help small and medium-sized enterprises get online and connect with more customers. Lastly, Mr Ip said the most important goal for start-ups must be to stay alive as a business. Enterprises need to prepare for an uncertain future and think ahead to understand what the world will be like tomorrow.

Ms Pang offered insights into the classic question of how both technology and understanding social norms can be used to improve services. Customers want things cheap, flexible and traceable. She noted that while it is now very inflexible to operate a traditional logistics fleet, crowdsourcing was a viable option. "There is a lot of idle capacity in the city, and a lot of people with downtime," she said. "Students, maybe they work until 3pm then have four or five hours of downtime. Semi-retirees, they are still very healthy and can run around and do neighbourhood deliveries. Are we able to utilise them effectively, as long as there is good technology to trace and do quality control?"

Ms Pang also explained how advanced computerised systems were necessary when employing a more flexible and dynamic delivery system. For Pickupp's platform, thousands of deliveries will go out at any given time, all with different weights and dimensions, which need to be bundled together at the lowest cost.

Creating happiness can lead to growth

Katherine Cheung, Chief Marketing Officer at online education platform Snapask, shared on how the start-up has been able to grow its business in a difficult environment at a seminar titled "From Crisis to Chances: Unleashing Opportunities in Challenging Times". She described online education as "hard to start, harder to win".

With the goal of offering the best online learning experience, the Snapask team conducted in-depth research and ran numerous surveys to identify what would make users happy. They found that an instant experience and instant support were important for online learners, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, the start-up made one small product change, to move all the fast-responding and always-online tutors to every single page possible whenever users log in so they can offer immediate support. Ms Cheung said that faster matching of students and tutors has resulted in more referrals and retentions, so "creating happiness means growth," she said.

Photo download: https://bit.ly/334i18E

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn
Contact:
Please contact Creative Consulting Group or HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs Department: Creative Consulting Group June Wong Tel: +852 3159 2909 / +852 6986 5822 Email: june.wong@creativegp.com Peggy Mak Tel: +852 3159 2982 / +852 9482 3144 Email: peggy.mak@creativegp.com HKTDC Leslie Ng Tel: +852 2584 4239 Email: leslie.ss.ng@hktdc.org


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source http://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/60532/